Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-11-04
OLD DRESDEN.
BY FLORA HAINEs APPoNYI.

Old Dresden paused for a moment in
his task of knocking up the gnarled mes
quite roots, and with a loug breath of
satisfaction and the air of connoisseur
viewed the pink-tinted heap beside him.
Pulling Off his diapidated hat, he
allowed the cool morning breeze to play
among the somewhat ragged locks which
hung over his forehead. The sun, like
a great crimson ball, hung sleepily above
the Eastern horizon, casting a faint glow
upon the turretted face of the FlorIdas.
and gliding the distant peaks of the Tres
Hermanas, standing in close linked en-
brace, like allied sentinels guarding the
Mexican frontier.
The echo of human voices fell upon
DreSden's ear. ooh, John, why must
you goW A woman's voice, low and
sweet, with tremor of pain.
Come now, Helen, don't be baby
dear. Three weeks will fly by in no
time. And who knows how rich strike
I may make"
''But | don't want it. need you,
john" Old Dresden addressed himself
to the woodpile with redoubled energy.
A flying knot of mesquite struck his
hand. The sting of the wound refreshed
him, and little later he heard the door
of the cottage slam, while the clink of a
horses hoof sounded on the gravelly soil.
AS he watched hsrse and rider disappear
something very like a hot German oath
rolled like stitled thunder from his lips.
"a teufel of fellow" he murmured
m n q Inn 1N Il -
accenting the qualification with stout
blows of the axe on an obstinate root,
which had as many contortions as a dy-
ing serpent. "A teufel of q fellow.
Leaf little frau like dat alone town to
Mexico TO tig golt in mittel de winder.
1t might be ferry goot for him, "he added
meditatively, leaning upon the axe-helve,
his face screwed into a quaint grinace,
Gas old Ju should take off his scalp for
him-but dc little frau"
Old Dresden was not the only one who
disapproved of John Meredlth's journey
through the wild Sierra Madre at that
season OF the year, when storms were
frequent in the mountains and Apaches
skulking in the valleys and passes. His
partner, David Rowel, had entered q
vigorous protest, but to no avail. John
Meredith had the pugnacity of determi-
nation peculiar to men of genius. From
early boyhood his career had been sig
nalized by series of daring and head
strong exploits, and when, as crowning
feat, he had captured pretty Helen
Gresham by an audacous move, if David
! Rowcll felt any soreness of heart over
her capitulation he choked it bravely
down and harbored no bitterness in his
| honest heart
A week after her husbands departure,
Mrs. Meredith received scrawl from
Mesilla, where he had expected to meet
friend, writ en- just as they were taking
the trail. "And don't be worried my
dear" he wrote, in conclusion, ''the days
will pass quickly, and three weeks will
soon be up. But you must count from
the date of our departure. She dried
her eyes and counted the days from the
10th of February.
AS time progressed, the suns rays
beat ever more warmly upon the earth,
and, by the middle of March, the heat
at MONDAY was like foretaste of sum-
mer. Passers-by, as they nearel the
small cottage, learned to exEect vision
of par of imploring eyes at the door
or window, or at nightfall a woman's
form, enveloped in worsted shawl,
pacing up and down behind the double
row of cacti and trio of sickly cherry
trees which constituted the sole verdure
in the garden.
AT twilight an Insignificant figure with
bowed shoulders and shock of bushy
hair, going s lently about his chores in
the backyard, stole furtive glances at
the sad-eyed young matron and returned
to his lonely shanty to sit and brood
over a weighty project incubating in
his troubled brain. 1t was generally
understood throughout the community
that some dark mystery attached to old
Dresden, the concealment of his proper
appellaton and adoption of the name
, OF his native city being regarded as most
eliminating evidence. But the old fell
low kept on the even tenor of his way,
attending to his small stock of poultry
and selling his eggs and chickens at an
advance OF twenty-five per cent on the
market price, wholly indifferent to the
p aise or blame OF the rest of humanity.
Early in the third week after the young
prospector's promised return there began
to be little stir in downtown circles.
News of q fresh Apache outbreak had
been received, which augured ill for any
unprotected prospectors in their vicinity.
From laughing ind ference the business
men began to discuss the chances of
! Meredith's safety.